Social Studies

Philosophy
Social studies comprises the study of relationships among people and between people and the environment. It recognizes the challenges and benefits of living in a diverse cultural and ideological society. Based on appropriate investigations and reflections within social studies, students develop distinctive skills and a critical awareness of the human condition and emerging spatial patterns and the processes and events that shape them. Social studies education builds our common understandings of responsible citizenship.

A responsible citizen:

• Uses knowledge of the past to construct meaningful understanding of our history in order to enrich and enlighten our lives. (Historical Perspective)
• Uses knowledge of geographical concepts, such as spatial patterns and both human and natural systems, to understand processes that impact our world. (Geographic Perspective)
• Uses knowledge of government, law, and politics to make decisions about and take action on local, national, and international issues to further the public good. (Civic Perspective)
• Uses knowledge of production, distribution, and consumption within modern economics to make decisions. (Economic Perspective)
• Uses a wide range of social studies skills, including critical thinking, to investigate and analyze a variety of resources and issues and seek answers. (Critical Thinking Skills)
• Uses effectively both group process and communication skills to participate in democratic decision-making. (Interpersonal and Group Skills)

Adopted materials

• Elementary  Grade level social study adoptions
• Middle school
• 6th grade: World History: Ancient Civilizations (Houghton–Mifflin)
• 7th grade: History Alive! The Medieval World and Beyond (Teacher's Curriculum Inst.)
• 7th grade: Washington in the Pacific Northwest (Gibbs Smith)
• 8th grade: Call to Freedom (Holt, Rinehart & Winston)
• High school
• 9th grade: World Cultures and Geography (McDougal–Littell)
• 10th grade: World History: Patterns of Interaction (McDougal–Littell)
• 10th grade: Western Civilization (Honors) (Thomson)
• 11th grade: America Pathways to the Present – Survey Edition (Prentice Hall)

Parent Resources

• Select Best of History website for those culture and history reports.